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Equality diversity and inclusion

Our commitment 

NAHT is dedicated to promoting equality for all its members, and this commitment is enshrined in NAHT’s constitution. 

NAHT’s work on equality is overseen by our diversity and inclusion group, a sub-committee of NAHT’s national executive.

NAHT’s role

Our equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) work is centred around three aspects:

  1. Supporting our members as leaders: as school leaders, NAHT members are ideally positioned to create inclusive learning and working environments for all their pupils and staff, one which welcomes diversity and champions equality. NAHT’s role is to empower our members with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to do this effectively. 
     
  2. Supporting our members as individuals: we know members with certain protected characteristics face additional and/or specific challenges in their roles. As a Trade Union, our core purpose is protecting our members; whether proactively, for example campaigning to remove systemic inequities in the system, or reactively, aiding members who are experiencing particular issues in their workplace, through our representation and/or legal teams.
     
  3. As a democratic organisation: NAHT recognises that we are most effective in representing the views and needs of school leaders when we engage with all of our membership. We are therefore committed to ensuring our own democratic structures are inclusive and reflect the diversity of the educational professionals and learners that we serve.

NAHT’s equality networks

NAHT has three informal equality networks for members. These are led by members, for members.

Find out more about our networks, including how to join and planned meetings, by clicking on the links below. 

NAHT's EDI statements

Following a resolution at NAHT Annual Conference, we are developing a series of policy statements outlining NAHT’s views and commitments around equality, diversity and inclusion. These have been developed in conversations with NAHT’s equality networks, our diversity and inclusion group, and our national executive.

Click below to see our EDI statements:

Statements will continue to be reviewed and additional statements may be developed, as led by our membership.

Our statement of action and commitments on EDI in education for 2023/24

In September 2023, NAHT, alongside other key organisations working in the sector, outlined its new actions and commitments to help further equality, diversity and inclusion in education. Find out more and read our statement of action and commitments on EDI in education for 2023/24.

Resources

Advice and support

For more about the advice and guidance available from NAHT, along with resources to support members with EDI in their schools, see our EDI hub page.

TUC equality conferences

Every year, the TUC hosts a series of equality conferences that supplement the general work of TUC Congress. These conferences focus on supporting the advancement of issues that disproportionally impact minority groups. Find out more and how NAHT members can get involved.

Latest news and advice

NAHT affiliates with Maternity Action

NAHT has become a trade union affiliate with Maternity Action, the UK’s maternity rights charity.

What is Maternity Action?

Maternity Action is dedicated to promoting, protecting, and enhancing the rights of all pregnant women, new mothers and their families to employment, social security, and healthcare. It aims to reduce poverty, promote health and improve gender equality throughout maternity and the early years, with a special focus on achieving lasting changes for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged women.

What services does it offer?

  • Maternity Action provides free advice line and access to expert legal advice on employment rights and benefits
  • Maternity Action provides a range of free guidance on maternity and parental rights at work, benefits for low-income families and the entitlements of migrant, asylum seeker and refugee women to housing, income and healthcare
  • Maternity Action also has a programme of research, policy and campaigning on employment, social security and healthcare.


What does affiliation mean for NAHT?

  • Maternity Action will provide NAHT with access to up-to-date information and advice, with news on latest research, policy and employment rights developments, and government consultations
  • Membership of the Alliance for Maternity Rights coalition: working with other trade unions and campaigning organisations to share information and ideas and to lobby for effective change on maternity rights
  • Opportunities to speak to members on issues around maternity rights.
First published 24 October 2022
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